Product category:
Metalforming lubricants
News Release from: John Neale | Subject: Tube bending support compound
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 14 August 2007
Light support media eases large tube
bending
To overcome the problem of the weight of supporting media used in the bending of large diameter tubes, a light weight, low melting polymer has been introduced.
The problem with the bending of large diameter metal tubing is the weight of support materials like low melting point metal alloys like bismuth alloys, epoxy resins, sand, shot, and ice The metal alloys are very effective but due to their high density make tubes very heavy to handle, a significant problem with large diameter tubes
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 3 Jul 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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Epoxy resin is difficult to remove and sand shot and ice are less effective.
John Neale has been working with a precision tube bending company specialising in small runs to develop a new compound for work piece support.
The result is a low melting point ( about 80 deg C) polymer, which can be melted and then poured into the tubes, When solidified it gives sufficient work piece support for bending.
It was also considered that after hot draining of the polymer for any residues to be removable by a simple water rinse.
In this way, there is no need for solvent degreasing and having to cope with the difficulties of the Solvent Emissions Directive.
Trials at the customer showed that this new polymer system gave excellent results.
Work piece support was more than adequate and the solid polymer wasn't squeezed out of the tube.
There was good maintenance of concentricity, and no kinking or distortion.
The product is available as Resin WS8 and is produced in flakes.
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